In Memory of Svitlana Kravchenko

All of us at ELAW mourn the passing of our beloved partner, Svitlana Kravchenko. We have benefited enormously from working with Svitlana over the past 17 years and we will miss her.

Svitlana worked tirelessly to strengthen the rule of law, protect the earth, and advance human rights around the world. She was determined to give citizens around the world a voice in decisions about their planet and their future. She fearlessly challenged powerful interests and pursued change through writing, teaching, advocacy, organizing, and personal persuasion. She brought a warmth, passion, beauty, and joy to her work that lifted all of us and will continue to inspire us.

Svitlana and her husband, ELAW founder and director John Bonine, formed an inspiring and dynamic team. They wrote together, taught together, traveled together, and worked together to make the world a better place. We send our condolences to John and to Svitlana’s daughter, Maria Kostytska, a lawyer practicing in Paris. We also send condolences to Svitlana’s niece, Olena Kravchenko, and her team at the environmental law organization that Svitlana founded and Olena leads in Lviv: Environment-People-Law.

Svitlana touched people all over the world. ELAW partners from more than 60 countries around the globe have grieved together and shared memories of Svitlana. Even in passing, she has made the worldwide ELAW network stronger.

Bern Johnson
Executive Director

ELAW partner Svitlana Kravchenko died in Oregon on February 10, 2012, following a heart attack. For more about her life and work, visit: